Shower head



Nov. 17, 1942. E H, BUCKNELL .Er L 2,302,366

sHowERfHEAD Filed March ll. 1939 3 Sheets-sheet 1 ,fr I i x.

Nov. 17, 1942. l E. H. BUCKNELL rs1-A1.l 2,302356 SHOWER HEAD Filed March l, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N0V- 17, 1942- E. H. BUCKNELL ETAL 2,302,355

SHOWER HEAD Filed March 1, 1959 3 sheets-sheet s Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT orties Angeles, Calif.,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to Modern Faucet Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a copartnership Application March 1, 1939, Serial No. 259,199

4 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to showed heads and more particularly to a shower head of an inexpensive form of construction having means therein for controlling the volume of water passed through the head.

It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive form of shower head wherein means are provided for properly dispersing the water as it is emitted from the head and also including a means whereby the Volume of water permitted to emit from the head is controlled by simple rotation of the head or shell thereof with reference to its supporting means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive form of shower head including a shell which is adapted to be mounted upon a swivel support and between which shell and swivel support a volume control means is situated with reference to the swivel support so that the volume control is provided by a simple rotation of the shower head shell.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive form of shower head including a shell of inexpensive form of construction such as of spun construction wherein there is mounted a water dispersing member of rubber or similar material having dispersing grooves formed between the dispersing member and the shell and which shell is adapted to be supported with reference to a swivel support to permit adjustment of the head in any desired position and between which shell and ball of the swivel joint there is provided a volume control means operable by simple rotation of the shell to control the volume of water permitted to pass through the dispersing member.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of the shower head embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detached fragmental elevation of the water dispersing element embodied in our invention.

Figure 5 is an elevation in a half vertical section of a. modified form of head embodying our invention.

another modified form of head embodying our invention.

Figure 7 is an end view of the ball connecting member as employed in the structure illustrated 5am Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an elevation mainly in vertical midsection of a further modified form of head embodying our invention.

Figure 9 is an elevation mainly in vertical sec- 1()I tion viewed from a position of 90 from the illustration as made in Figure 8 and of the modification therein illustrated.

Figure 10 is an end View of the ball connecting member incorporated in the structure of Figures 15.8 and 9.

Figure 11 is an elevation partly in vertical midsection of another modified form of head embodying our invention.

Figure 12 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line I2-I 2 of Figure 11.

Figure Y13 is a partial cross section at right angles to Figure 11 showing the outer shell in section and the interior parts in elevation,

In the preferred embodiment of our invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the shower vhead is illustrated as including an outer shell I in which there is mounted a water dispersing member 2 which is held within the shell I by meansof a sleeve 3 and screw 4. VThe sleeve 3 is secured in relation to the flow control mem ber 5in the central aperture 6 thereof by peening or spinning the end 'I of the sleeve 3 over to secure the sleeve within the aperture 6. The flow control` member 5 is mounted within the shell I by threading the same therein at the threads 8.

The flow control member 5 has a plurality of water ports 9 through which the Water passes into the interior of the shell I in reaching the dispersing member 2.

40' A floating water control member I0 is mounted within the shell I concentrically within the substantially cylindrical section II of the flow control member 5. The end of the floating water control member I9 is provided with a bearing protuberance I2 which engages the inner end of the screw 4 forming a bearing support around which the shell I rotates with reference to the floating water control member I0. We have called the member I0 a floating water control member because this member is not rigidly afxed in position but is secured in position Within the shell I with relation to the swivel ball I3 through the medium of a spring I4 which engages a gland follower I5, which gland follower Figure 6 is a similar halfsectional elevation of 55, in turn presses a flexible packingv disc or seal member I6 into position against the periphery of the swivel ball I3, at the same time urging the outer periphery I'I of the sealing member I6 against the inner periphery of the floating mem` when these ports are rotated into a position of` register with the relieved sections I9 of the cylindrical wall II of the flow control member 5. Thus by relieving this cylindrical section to form the members I9, Water control passages are formed so that the water may flow from the interior of the floating member I Il out through the ports I8, up through the relieved portions or passages I9, into the shell I above the member 5, whereupon the ports 9 permit the water to ow downward through the shell I to the water distributing member 2. This water distributing member 2, being formed of a flexible material and having water passages or grooves 20 formed in the flange 2| on its periphery ZI', controls the dispersion of the water below the shower head.

The grooves 2li are formed on the periphery 2 I in diverging and staggered relationship so that the frusto-conical section of the shower below the shower head is lled. The member 2 is formed of rubber or similar material which has the characteristic of preventing the deposit of lime within the grooves 20, therefore the grooves do not tend to clog up.

When the dispersing member 2 is formed of rubber or a similar material, there is also provided a self-cleaning head because the member 2 is formed at its periphery of a diameter suilcient to permit the periphery to move away from the wall of the shell I when water is not being forced through the head, thus the passages are enlarged so that as the shower head drains, all deposit within the head clears through the enlarged opening. When the water under pressure is admitted into the shell, the force of the water acting against the ilange 2I forces the same outward until the periphery is in contact with the inner periphery of the shell I, thus confining the ow from the head through the grooves 20 of this dispersing member.

The head as thus formed is mounted upon a swivel mounting, which swivel mounting as herein illustrated includes the hollow swivel ball I3 which may be formed as illustrated as an extension of the water supply conduit 22. socket is provided in the shell I consisting of a A form of 2 when the same is formed of rubber or similar flexible material, a disc 2e is molded within the member in order to provide the required rigidity thereof.

In the modication of our invention as illustrated in Figure 5, the shower head is of the rigidly iixed type to x the direction of spray as is particularly desirable in some installations where it is not desired to permit the user of the shower to change the spray direction because of the necessity of conning the water within certain limits.

In this modification similar parts are indicated by similar numerals with the addition of an exponent a thereto.

The outer shell Ia carries the inner cylindrical flow control partition I I a having the volume control port 9a adapted to be rotated with reference to the volume control port 8a in the combined volume control and connecting member I3a.

The shell la is connected with the member I3a by means of a packing gland member 26a which retains the packing 23a in position to form a iiuid-tight connection between the gland member 2&7., the upper end of the shell Ia., the outer periphery of the member I3a, and the annular I. rim 39a which protrudes from the member I3a to form a stop shoulder to engage the end stop shoulder 3 Ia formed on the shell Ia. 'I'hus a rotatable packing gland is formed permitting the shell Ia to be rotated with reference to the member I 3a so that the degree of register of the ports 8a and 9a may be adjusted to control the Volume of water permitted to pass from the member I3a through the shell I a.

The volume control partition Ila carries at its lower end a water-dispersing member 2a which may be of substantially the same construction and form as that illustrated in the previous modM ication of our invention heretofore described. This volume control member may be formed of rubber or rubber substitutes such as any of the synthetic rubber products now appearing on the market which have the property of avoiding the 'retention and deposits from the water which would tend to clog the water-grooves 26a. In this modication the member I3a forms the means by which the shower head is coupled to the water supply line.

In the modification of our invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, similar parts are indicated packing ring 23 which is of the hard type packing having its inner periphery curved as illustrated at 24 to correspond with the periphery of the hollow ball I 3. The ball is of a larger diameter than the conduit 22 and the opening 25 formed in the shell I is of a diameter larger than the diameter of the conduit 22'. Thus the ball I3 is assembled through the shell I before the control member parts as hereinbefore described are assembled with the packing ring 23 in position.

A washer 26 is then fitted into a groove 21 formed in the shell I and expanded outwardly to hold `the 'packing 23 in place.

In 'order to hold the water dispersing member by similar numerals with the addition of an exponent b thereto.

In this modication of our invention the ball I3b is connected with the shell lb and with the volume control member IIb in such manner as to permit relative movement of the shell Ib with reference to the member |317 in one plane only, thus restricting the adjustment of the shower 'head to one plane as is desired, particularly in shower installations over bathtubs where it is permissible to have the head adjustable in a vertical plane but it is not desirable to have the head adjustable horizontally to cause the spray lof water to either pass out over the side of the tub or against the side wall ofthe room in which the tub is mounted.

In this modication in order to accomplish this object, volume control member IIb is proycontrol member IIb is provided with the volume 'vided with sockets 32D into which trunnions 33h carried by the swivel ball I3b iit upon assemblage of the parts, thereby permitting rotation of the shell Ib around the trunnions 33h. The volume control port 3b adapted to cooperate with the 53, which is of the form heretofore described f volume control port 9b formed in this case in the horizontally disposed volume control partition b so that upon rotation of the shell Ib with reference to the volume control member Hb the degree of registry of these ports may be determined to control the volume of water emitted from the head. This head is also equipped with a dispersing member 2b of a construction similar to that heretofore described in connection with the previous modifications of our invention heretofore set forth. Y l Y Ay packing gland 26h is also provided between the shell member Ib and the swivel ball 13b to form a fluid-tight connection. The form of vpacking gland here illustrated is similar to thatset forth in connection with the first modificationof our Vinvention disclosed except in this. case the packing gland fis of adjustable construction.

In the modification of our invention illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 there is illustrated a further form of restricted adjustable volume control shower head restricted to permit adjustment of the head with reference to the supporting member 1in a single plane as in the modiiication of Figures G'and 7.

Inv this'modiiication of our invention similar parts are indicated by similar numerals with the addition of an exponent c thereto.

This modication is very similar in construction to the modicationof Figures l to 4, inclusive, with the exception that the shell Ic is formed in two separable parts connected at threads 3de for the purpose of ease of assembly. In this modification a key member 35o is interposed between the plate sie and the swivel ball |30 with the key section thereof fitting into a guide groove e formed in the end of the loa-ll swivel member itc. The plate member 3io is suitably ported as indicated at .'cto permit the water to flow therethrough.

In this modification the registry ports 8c and 9c are provided in the partition member I ic and volume control member 5c, respectively, and the key 35o performs a further function in combinationwith the spring Mc of retaining the volume control-member lic from rotation as the shell lc is rotated to adjust the degree of registry of the ports 8c and 9c. In order to accomplish this to maintain the key 35o in position, the key is mounted in a slot formed in a slotted plate 31o carried between the end of the spring |40 and an annular shoulder 380 formed in the volume control member I Ic. A water dispersing member 2c of a construction similar to that heretofore provided may also be utilized in this modication.

In the modiiied form of construction embodying our invention illustrated in Figures 11, 12, and 13, there is provided a particularly novel form of water dispersing from the head wherein the water may be selectively dispersed through one or the other of two different types of dispersing members giving two distinctly different types of shower, all of which is controlled by the rotation of the shower head shell with reference to the supporting member through which the water is admitted into the shell.

In this modified form of construction, the shell is indicated at 5l and the supporting member or swivel ball is indicated at 52. The member 52 is hollow and the water of the shower head is supplied through this member. As is common in the art, the member 52 is connected in the water supply line.

The shell 5I carries two different forms of water dispersing members, one as indicated at in connection with the previous modiiications of our invention in that it includes a grooved dispensing disc 54 which operates in conjunction with the inner periphery 55 of the shell 5I to disperse the water through the grooves 5B formed between the disc 54 and the inner periphery 55 of the shell 5I.

The disc 54 is, as in the previous modifications, of rubber or a suitable rubber substitute and is reinforced with a reinforcing plate or ring 51.

While we have herein illustrated the dispersing means as of particular form, it will be obvious that any other desired form of dispersing means well understood in the art may be substituted for Ythe particular f-orms as illustrated.

In this modification of our invention, this dispersing member 53 is carried upon a hollow plug 53 which is threaded to the partitioning weby 59 formed within the shell 5l. The hollow plug 58 forms the ,second dispersing member and the water is dispersed through this hollow plug. The hollow plug is formed with a funnel-shaped passage 63 therethrough and acts when water is dispersed therethrough to give a shower of drops as distinguished from the shower of streams which is provided through the dispersing member 53 as the water emerges through the grooves 55.

In order to control through which of these dispersing mediums the water will be directed as it is admitted from the water supply member 5? there is provided within the shell a thimble El which is held against the inner surface of the web 59 by means of the spring 52. The spring acts between the thimble 5i and the ball 63 of the supporting member 52 to hold the thimble 5i from rotationas well as to yieldably urge the same against the inner lwall of the web 55.Y The transverse section 64 of the thimble 5l has formed therein three holes.y These holes are indicated at 65 and provide passages for the water as received in the thimble 5i from the supporting member 52.

The shell 5l is formed alternately with plug dispensing member ports 55 and groove-dispensing ports 61 spaced apart and spaced with reference to positioning of the port 65.

The shell 5l is carried by the supporting member 52 so that it may be rotated with reference thereto and for this purpose is connected through the medium of a packing gland 65 in a manner similar to the connections heretofore described in connection with the other modifications of our invention. Thus on rotation of the shell 5I with reference to the thimble 5I and supporting member 52, those holes 65 or 61 with which the ports 65 register may be determined. Thus it may be determined whether or not the water passes through the plug funnel-shaped spray or whether it passes through the grooved spray provided by the grooves 56. It will be obvious from the drawing that there is also a condition of the shell 5| with reference to the thimble 6l wherein water may be permitted to flow simultaneously through both the dispersing members but that the volume of water passing through each member will be correspondingly reduced. It will also be apparent that the volume of water permitted to pass through either of the dispersing members 58 or 53 may likewise be determined by the degree of registry of the controlling ports,

The port 66 connects with the axial passage leading to the funnel-shaped passage 60 through the medium of connecting slots 59 leading into the cylindrical extension 10 of the web 5,9. The

cylindrical extension T9 also acts to separate vthe chamber within which the dispersing member 53 is mounted from the chamber within which theI dispensing plug 5B is mounted. rlhus the ports 61 formed through the web 5S lead directly to the chamber in which the groove-dispersing member is positioned.

In order to hold the shell 5l fromY rotating except in a single plane, pins Tl are carried by the ball 63 and engage within slots formed in the thimble 6l, thereby preventing rotation oi' the thimble 5l with reference to the supporting member 52.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, butV our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a shower head, the combination of a shell, means for rotatably supporting the shell, water dispensing means carried by the shell for dispersing water as a spray therefrom, an orificed floating water control member rotatably mounted within the shell, an oriced member carried by the shell providing an orifice adapted to cooperate with the oriiice in the floating water control member, means cooperating with said oriced oating water control member and said means for rotatably supporting the shell for resisting axial rotation of the orificed floating control member whereby as the shell is rotated the degree of registry of said companion orices may be varied to control the volume of water dispersed through the water dispersing means.

2, In a shower head, the combination of an inlet member, a shell, means for connecting the shell and inlet member for relative rotation, means mounted in the shell for dispersing water as a shower spray, a water control member rotata/bly mounted within the shell to receive water from the inlet member, said water control member having a water outlet port, a companion water control member juxtaposed on the rst mentioned control member and carried by the shell and having a water outlet port, and means cooperating with the inlet member and the rst CII mentioned Water control member for resisting axial rotation of the rst mentioned water control member whereby the rst said Water control member is held from rotation relative to the inlet member while the shell is being rotated relative to the water inlet member to determine the position of registry of the ports of the said control members.

3. In a shower head, the combination of a shell, a spray dispersion member rotatably mounted in the shell, a ported flow control member mounted within the shell, a ported floating control member juxtaposed with relation to the first said control member and mountedA within the shell, a swivel mounted for the shell and means mounted within the shell between the swivel mounting and the floating control member to hold the iloating control member from rotation when the shell is rotated on the swivel mounting to determine the degree of registry of the ports of the said control members.

4. In a shower head, the combination of a shell, means for dispersing liquid from within the shell as a spray, an oriced inlet connection, means providing a universal connection between the shell and the oriiice inlet connection, a floating water control member mounted within the shell, an orificed member carried by the shell providing an orice adapted to cooperate with the orice of the floating water control member, means within the shell cooperating with the oriflced water control member and the water inlet member for resisting axial rotation of the oating water control member, and whereby the shell may be swiveled with respect to the inlet connection to control the direction of the spray, and whereby the shell may be rotated to control the degree of registry of the orices of the floating water control member and the other said water control member to control the volume of Water dispersed from the shell and the swiveling and rotating movements of the shell being mutually independent.

ERNEST H. BUCKNELL. RALPH E. BIETCHER. 

